Happy Holidays! You all voted for a Season 11 bonus chapter to read and the votes are in. It ended up being a tie, thus I had to place the deciding vote for you all! I hope you all enjoy this flashback chapter that took place during this season’s prom episode.
This chapter will only be available for everyone for a limited time, so please enjoy it while you can! If you wish to read all of this season’s bonus chapters, you can now purchase the eBook compilation here. I had so much fun writing these chapters this season. I am thrilled to announce that next season, I will be sharing two bonus chapters EVERY week for patrons. I hope you enjoy this chapter! It’s one of my favorites.
The Moment I Knew: A Caiden and Jamie Story
As Caiden dipped Jamie into a kiss, she felt a calm wash over her. It’s amazing how he’s able to do that, she thought. I shouldn’t be surprised though. Long ago, he told me that all he wanted was for us to have a future together and he’s never wavered from that. Even now… even with all of this. He’s still by my side. With him, I never have to worry. I know we’ll be okay.
Her mind began to drift off to their last night together in Strangerville before battling the Motherplant…
Jamie and Caiden were sitting inside their small trailer as they anxiously awaited their fight the next day. It was only a matter of hours before the sun would rise and they would be heading out to the biggest battle of their lives.
“Jamie. Are you sure you want to do this tomorrow?” Caiden said, his face full of worry.
Jamie stared back at him. “Of course, Caiden. We’re in this together. Always have been. Always will be,” she said reassuringly, trying not to sound concerned.
Caiden’s face dropped. “We don’t know what could happen. That motherplant could grab me — or you — and wiggle us upside down before it eats us…” he started to freak out.
Jamie looked at him, tilting her head to the side in disbelief. “Good pep talk, coach. I feel great now,” she sarcastically nodded.
“I’m sorry.” He shook his head. “I know I often come off as fearless but… this feels different that anything I’ve ever experienced before in my life.”
“Of course it does, Caiden. Neither of us have ever fought a Motherplant before. I’m terrified too. But, just like you, I know we have to do this,” she said as her eyes glanced at the clock. “Oh my gosh. It’s really late. We should try to get at least a little sleep,” Jamie said as she stood up.
“Jamie…that’s not what I meant,” he said quietly to himself.
His voice became stronger. “It’s different because — it’s different because of you.”
“I don’t want to die without you knowing how I feel about you,” he finished.
He stood up and grabbed her hand. “I don’t want to lose you, Jamie. And I don’t want to lose everything that we could have. Everything that we could be. For the first time in my life, I’m truly afraid. I spent my life living for the day. Carpe diem, right? But I don’t want to live for the day anymore. You made me want to live for the future,” he paused. “For our future.”
“Earlier you said my heart was still with Leila. But it’s not. My heart is with you,” Caiden said as he grabbed Jamie, his hands gripping the back of her sweater. “My heart will always be with you.”
“Jamie,” he whispered, his breath delicately hitting her lips. She could feel his fingers caressing hers as he continued to grip her hand.
Jamie looked into his eyes. Every thought seemed to be escaping from her head as she watched his eyes travel across her face. It was like he was memorizing every part of her.
Jamie clasped her hands around his muscular arms as she pulled him towards her. She could feel his heart beating against her chest now. It was beating so fast.
His hand slowly moved up her back until he was grasping the back of her hair. Without a word, it was clear to her that he couldn’t resist another second without kissing her.
And just like that, Caiden kissed Jamie passionately. As he tousled her hair in his hand, she slowly moved her fingers under his shirt. She wanted to feel his skin against hers so badly.
Caiden pulled back. “Jamie? Are you sure?”
Her fingers crept to the top of his pants as she slowly unbuttoned it.
“What do you think?” she teased.
Caiden smiled. “I can’t say I’m thinking much at all right now.”
“Good,” Jamie smiled back as she bit her bottom lip. Her hands slowly moved back up his chest, lifting his shirt and then dropping it back down, playfully teasing him.
He brushed his hands over her shoulders, dropping her opened sweater to the ground. As he scrunched the back of her purple top in his hand, he breathed deeply, trying to curb his impulse to just rip it straight off of her.
As he released her shirt, his hand crept up her chest, landing on her necklace. He held the pendant in his hand as he stared into Jamie’s eyes.
“You… are so beautiful,” he said. She reached to his hand, placing hers on his. Slowly, she moved his hand across the top of her chest, redirecting his fingers to the opened top buttons of her blouse. She could feel his finger tips delicately sliding underneath the edge of her bra.
She moved her hands back onto his chest, pulling his shirt up and over his head. His blue eyes gazed at her as the moonlight drenched the room. Just then, he shifted his hands to her stomach, and knelt down. As he slid his hands up her blouse, he kissed her belly button and moved his lips along her stomach. He stopped, glancing up at her.
She gazed back at him with a reassuring nod. Caiden calmly stood back up as he simultaneously lifted her blouse over her. As he pulled her tightly up against his chest, she could feel every inch of her skin tingling.
Jamie breathed heavily. “Caiden…” she said as his name faded from her lips before he kissed her again. And again.
And again until every thought faded along into the night.
